KAMIAH, Idaho — The family of a firefighter who was injured a year ago while fighting a wildfire in north Idaho is hoping to bring him home this fall.
U.S. Forest Service firefighter Justin Shaw was struck by a tree in August of last year while responding to a fire near the Nez Perce Reservation.
Shaw has spent the summer at a neurological injury facility in Omaha, Nebraska to continue his long-term recovery.
Shaw’s family said in a statement that they are working to remodel their home to make it more ADA-friendly for when he comes home.
You can read the full update from the family below:
“We have been away from home almost a full year and miss our beloved Idaho. Our hope is to bring Justin home sometime this fall. Justin would love to be back in Idaho where he can be closer to family and friends. We are currently working on remodeling our tri-level home to make it safe for Justin. Justin still uses a wheelchair for mobility and the small doorways make it impossible to navigate. Justin also could not safely use the stairs to get from living spaces to bedroom and bathroom spaces. When the home modifications are complete in late fall, our hope is to have an ADA-compliant Smart Home addition on the main level of our house. These modifications will make it so Justin can have both safety and privacy. When Justin gets to Boise, he will continue therapies for as long as he needs them in outpatient rehab.”Justin’s goal is ultimately to be independent; we will support him for as long as it takes him to reach that goal. Part of that support is to make necessary changes to our home. This has been a difficult journey and will be a marathon of recovery. Our lives changed drastically a year ago and we are navigating through this recovery process as best we can. We are thankful he is recovering a little bit every day.””Our family is very grateful for all the support we have received from organizations like the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, JD Memorial Foundation and the Eric Marsh Foundation. We are also truly thankful for every person who donated to the GoFundMe, sent prayers and cards to encourage Justin. Please continue to pray and send cards to the address below. Your prayers and letters of encouragement help Justin feel connected to home.”
You can send letters for Justin Shaw to QLI House 2, 6309 North 70th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68104.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Shaw’s recovery.
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